San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan is not confident injured quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo will play again this NFL season.
Garoppolo has been sidelined since suffering a high ankle sprain in the 49ers' loss to the Seattle Seahawks in Week 8 on November 1.
The former New England Patriots quarterback, who led the 49ers to last season's Super Bowl, has completed 94 of 140 passes for 1,096 yards, seven touchdowns and five interceptions in six games this season.
Garoppolo is continuing to rehabilitate and is not likely to return to practice this week as Shanahan provided an update on the 29-year-old.
"We've had a number of high-ankle sprains on our team this year, but Jimmy's was definitely the worst," Shanahan told reporters on Monday.
"That's why we thought he was going to need surgery for a little bit, but he didn't. That's why he needs longer rest than most of the people. But Jimmy won't be back this week for practice.
"We'll see about Jimmy if he's ready for some practice the following week."
Kyle Shanahan revealed George Kittle has a chance to rejoin the team at practice this week, however, the team is erring on the side of caution in Garoppolo's return.
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) December 15, 2020
The 49ers have lost back-to-back games to sit bottom of the NFC West with a 5-8 record, adrift of the Los Angeles Rams (9-4), Seahawks (9-4) and Arizona Cardinals (7-6).
"I wouldn't say I'm confident [of Garoppolo returning in 2020]. I think it's up in the air," Shanahan said. "I'm waiting to hear from the doctors. When you have the high-ankle sprain that he had, that was worse than everyone else and it was so close to surgery, the only way we're going to put him out is if he's completely healed.
"I'm not going to risk him having to get surgery on it. I don't want to put him out there for a last game or last two games for a chance of re-injuring and have to have surgery in the offseason.
"Until the doctors tell me that there's no chance of that, and that has to do with Jimmy pushing himself like he has been doing - having no soreness and things like that, that's what we'll do it. That's why it is a week-to-week thing right now. We've gotten over the hump, but it's a risk and we're not going to do it if there's a risk."
Meanwhile, 49ers star George Kittle is a chance to re-join the team at practice for the first time in since sustaining a fracture in his foot in Week 8.